MEM-C is partnering with the UW College of Engineering Pathways to Inclusive Excellence program to offer a summer REU program to qualified 1st and 2nd year students. The program is focused on exposing underrepresented minorities and veterans to a viable and relevant career pathway focused on materials and energy research.
Our Focus: Materials Resilience and Innovation
Undergraduates, including veterans, will find that the research topics are both challenging and relevant to their experience. How can we provide mobile, lightweight, and inexpensive energy sources to our forces and to the communities they work with? How can materials research lead to new electronics that are super miniaturized, low energy consumption, and reliable? How can new kinds of sensors be used to improve safety, efficiency, and effectiveness?
Meet REU participants from earlier years
Download the MEM-C REU flyer.
Program Details
If selected you will be embedded in one of the MEM-C labs for 9 weeks. You will work with a graduate student and faculty to develop a research project, gain training in relevant techniques and instrumentation, collect data, and finally produce a poster and research abstract. Students participate in a weekly seminar on undergraduate research covering research ethics, writing a research abstract, making a scientific poster. Students participate in a weekly Materials Science special interest group in which they read scientific journals or tour other labs.
- Duration: 9 weeks
- Dates: June 17 to August 16, 2024
- Stipend: $6,180
- Travel and Housing: On-campus housing and allowances for food and travel to campus
- Application Deadline: 2/15/2024
Application Details
The program is designed to open doors for those who would like to explore new career options. A solid math and science high school preparation will be sufficient. Work-based experience will also be factored in.
Application Requirements
- Personal and demographic information
- Citizenship status: Note that since UW MEM-C is funded as an NSF MRSEC, the MEM-C REU program is only available to US citizens or permanent residents 18 years of age and older.
- Personal Statement (250 words maximum): Please discuss your interest in the UW MEM-C REU program and how it could be potentially transformative with respect to your future academic and career goals.
- Experience Statement (250 words maximum): The UW-MEM-C REU program is designed to provide participants with hands-on research experience, so applicants are not required to have prior research experience. Instead, we are looking for undergraduates who display skills that are important prerequisites for research. In 250 words or less, tell us how you worked through a major challenge you have faced. Factors to consider (you are not limited only to these): What was the scenario and why was it a challenge? Where did you get help? What motivated you to succeed? What did you learn from the experience? Why do you believe that you are prepared to be successful?
- Choice of host faculty (three top choices) and a brief explanation of why you are interested in working with them.
- CV/Resume and Transcript: Listing of all education, training, work experience, publications, presentations, awards, and participation in education and broader community activities, and a copy of your unofficial transcript.
- Professional Recommendations (2 people): Names and contact information for two people who can provide a professional recommendation. These referees will NOT automatically receive a link to submit their reference letters. You will need to contact them and request that they submit their letters by February 15, 2024 via our online form.
